INDUSTRY NEWS
The World Wildlife Fund says a new study it has conducted found that a more intensive shrimp farming yields better environmental and economic results than extensive farming. The study showed that, in most cases, intensive operations yielded at least eight additional tonnes of shrimp on each hectare of land.
WWF STUDY
Intensive shrimp farming better for environment
More intensive shrimp farming yields better environmental and economic results than extensive farming, a new study conducted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Vietnam and Thailand claims.
By producing more shrimp per hectare of land, farmers can increase production to meet growing demand for shrimp without increasing pressure on the region's natural resources, the study says.
"Natural resources like land, water, wild fish and energy come with a price tag," said Dr Aaron McNevin, director of aquaculture for WWF's Markets and Food programme, and lead author of the study. "By using them more efficiently, farmers can improve their environmental and economic performance at the same time."
The study in Vietnam and Thailand showed that, in most cases, intensive operations used land much more efficiently, yielding at least eight additional tonnes of shrimp on each hectare of land. They also reduced the costs of land use by more than 90% per kilogramme of shrimp.
The most intensive farms also made more efficient use of energy, with energy costs 74% to 89% lower than the least intensive operations. However, intensification also has negative implications such as more concentrated wastes in effluent and the potential to stress shrimp to the point that disease outbreaks occur.
Farmers use feed to be able to produce about 3.6 million tonnes of shrimp per year. The study said that if they all could improve feed efficiency by a factor of 0.1, it would save 106,000 hectares of land, 37 billion gallons of water, 468,000 tonnes of wild fish, and 3.6 million gigajoules of energy—enough to power nearly 140,000 American homes for a year.
Moreover, the greater efficiency would equate to farm-level savings of up to $110 million in Thailand and Vietnam.
The study said intensive shrimp farming, as opposed to extensive farming (which uses land that is primarily located in the coastal zone with high biodiversity) leaves habitat intact as it uses land more efficiently, giving several benefits:
"First, it mitigates the impact of climate change, which is driven by the loss of forests, mangroves, and other carbon-rich ecosystems.
"Second, protecting coastal zones provides breeding and nursing grounds for wild fish and other aquatic life.
"Third, intact habitat—particularly coastal ecosystems such as mangroves—protects in-land communities from storm surges".
ACCIDENTAL FINDING
University researchers discover bird gland keeps stressed fish alive
Did you know that fish, like humans, also feel stressed? Stressed-out fish, however, shorten their survival. A research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) accidentally discovered that an oil from a gland that chickens use to condition their feathers can keep fish alive.
The accidental finding started when animal science professor Mark Cook was exploring underused products from animal agriculture. Curious about the oil, or preen, gland, he and post-doctoral researcher Jake Olson noticed that the gland secreted an anti-inflammatory compound. Since a previous test showed that a different anti-inflammatory had accelerated fish growth, Cook and Olson contacted Terry Barry, a university expert in aquaculture, said.
"We did a quick study with fathead minnows, and they had better growth and survival", Barry, an expert on fish stress responses, was quoted as saying in a feature article written by David Tenebaum for UWM. "But when we tried rainbow trout and yellow perch, we did not see the growth acceleration".
A different result came out, however–substantially improved survival. "Every time they got stressed because the oxygen level had dropped or water temperature suddenly changed, fish fed a derivative of the preen-gland oil survived, but the others did not", Barry continued.
The researchers decided to call the oil cosajaba, which Olson describes as water-proof, a wax. Preen gland secretions play a mysterious role in birds, according to Olson. "A lot of research has built up suggesting it (gland) has a pheromone function and plays a role in mating. It may be antimicrobial or help in ultraviolet protection, in addition to waterproofing the feathers."
The researchers are finding out how unusual fatty acids in cosajaba oil dampen the stress response. Yet, they still have to determine how long the oil should be fed and when to start feeding it.
Stress has been found to be a major contributor to annual losses of about $250 million to Atlantic salmon farms in Norway. The stressors include events like vaccination, netting and the transition from fresh to salt water that precedes rapid growth in Atlantic salmon, according to the UWM article.
While the preen gland is discarded as waste from about 9 billion broiler chickens slaughtered in the US each year, Barry wonders whether cosajaba oil can be mass-produced.
The cosajaba project has received support from the UWM's Discovery to Product programme which, according to Olson, has been extremely helpful". "D2P helped us focus. We have learned to set up financial models, evaluate the growth potential, and pin down the value of reducing mortality for many species".
Terence Barry, an expert in aquaculture and the stress response in fish PHOTO
FROM UWM/JEFF MILLER
100-YEAR-OLD ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Nova Scotia makes progress in reviving oyster farming
A professor-researcher at Canada's Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture is leading a team of researchers in helping to revive Cape Breton's oyster sector, which used to be thriving until 2002, when a pathogen was found in oysters at the Bras D'Ors Lake. Cape Breton is an island at the eastern end of Nova Scotia province in Canada.
The disease, known as the Haplosporidium nelsonii parasite (MSX), causes high mortality in oyster populations but has no impact on humans, according to a news feature posted on Dalhousie University's website.
"This parasite impacted Cape Breton's wild oyster fishery, oyster aquaculture, and First Nations access to the oyster populations that they have been connected with throughout their history," said Dr. Sarah Stewart-Clark, an assistant professor at the agriculture faculty's department of animal science and aquaculture who is determined to rebuild what is recognized as a "100-year-old economic and cultural activity".
Dr. Stewart-Clark and her team have been responsible for leading a component of a project started three years ago by the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia to help fix the damage the disease outbreak had caused, prevent the disease from spreading, and eventually make the oyster sector in Nova Scotia successful in the long term.
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT NEEDED
FAO sees 'great' potential of tilapia farming in Africa
A new publication put out by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) highlights the potential of tilapia farming in Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa.
The new online publication notes that the world tilapia aquaculture production grew 12% annually, from less than 500,000 tonnes in the early 1990s to over 5 million tonnes in the mid-2010s, with Africa accounting for 20% of the growth.
"There is little doubt that there is great potential for the development of tilapia farming in Africa and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular", according to the FAO publication entitled "Social and Economic Performance of Tilapia Farming in Africa".
To realize the potential, however, an appropriate development policy and sector management are needed, it said. The publication includes five studies on tilapia farming in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda, which all accounted for nearly 95% of Africa's tilapia aquaculture production in the mid-2010s.
Each study provides a comprehensive account for the development of tilapia farming in the respective country with focus on the social and economic dimensions. Tilapia value chains are analysed in the context of the entire aquaculture or fish value chains from various perspectives (e.g. technical, economic, social and institutional).
Issues, constraints and challenges are highlighted and discussed, and potential solutions are recommended. Despite the vast information and knowledge provided by the studies, there are still many unknowns about tilapia farming in Africa, especially on the economic performance. Further study is needed to fill the information and knowledge gaps, the publication said.
'OVERHAUL PRODUCTION, TRADING MODELS'
Vietnam's aquaculture industry faces more challenges
Besides the anti-dumping duties imposed on tra fish and shrimp by the US, Vietnam's aquaculture industry has to hurdle several other challenges to achieve its export targets this year, according to expert observers.
These include tighter regulations on food safety imposed by the South Korea, Australia and the EU; import duties, technical barriers set by importers; and the pressures of competition.
Drought, saline intrusion and maritime environmental incidents in the central region have also continued to shrink material resources.
Economist Le Dang Doanh said Vietnamese exporters must quickly overhaul production and trading models to deal with the risks of climate change and changing market demand.
"Businesses and farmers in the Mekong Delta must break lifetime habits and flexibly respond to market fluctuations and signed contracts. Quality must take precedence over quantity", he was quoted as saying in a report by VOV5 (Radio The Voice of Vietnam) as relayed by vietnamnet.
"Production models must adapt to climate change. For example, if a kilo of shrimp is worth 20 kilos of rice, farmers in areas of brackish water should alternate rice crops with shrimp crops", he further stated.
Shrimp is one of Vietnam's key export earners but it must prevail against fierce competition and adapt to stricter importer requirements.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam also said that in order to achieve the target of US$10 billion in shrimp exports by 2025 (Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc set this goal last February), the sector should focus on increased application of scientific and technological breakthroughs to seedlings, food production and epidemic control.
Tam noted said that this year the aquatic sector intends to complete an action plan for developing Vietnam's shrimp industry until 2025.
"We should increase science and technology application to productivity in the areas of intensive farming and shrimp raising using industrial methods. The current brackish shrimp farming area of 140,000 hectares can be expanded in a short period of time, and the current average productivity of 4 tonnes per hectare can rise to 6 or 8 tonnes.
"We need to restructure the 600,000-hectare shrimp farming area, design policies to attract businesses, organise production households into cooperatives or associations linked with enterprises, and apply advanced science and technology", Tam said.
Vietnam expects to earn US$2.8 billion from aquatic exports in the first five months, up 10.4% from last year.
The US, Japan, China and South Korea are the leading importers of Vietnamese aquatic products.
VOLUME AT SAME LEVEL
Norway's seafood export value grows 13% in May
Norway's seafood export volume in May (163,000 tonnes) remained at the same level as a year before. Export value at NOK7.6 billion (US$901.58 million), however, increased 13%, or by NOK 888 million, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) said.
In the five months through May, Norway exported 1.1 million tonnes, or 3% more of seafood worth NOK39 billion ($4.63 billion). Year-on-year growth in value was 9%, or NOK3.2 billion.
"In May, we saw growth in exports for all the major commercial species such as salmon, cod, haddock and saithe. In particular, demand for Norwegian salmon in Asia increased. This means that an increasing proportion of Norwegian salmon goes to raw consumption. The salmon price was NOK70 per kg in May, which is the second-highest price measured this year", said Paul T. Aandahl, analyst at the NSC.
Norway exported 73,000 tonnes of salmon, 5% down (equivalent to 3,800 tonnes) with a value of NOK 5.3 billion in May. The value increased by NOK535 million, or 11%, from May last year. During the first five months, Norway exported 377,000 tonnes of salmon worth NOK26 billion.
The average price of fresh whole salmon in May rose to NOK69.98 ($8.30) per kilogramme from NOK60.17 ($7.14) per kg in May 2016. Poland, France and Denmark were the largest importers of salmon from Norway in May.
Norway exported 2,900 tonnes of trout in May, 43% down from May last year. Value amounted to NOK 236 million, down 16%, or NOK45 million.
From January to May, Norway exported 14,000 tonnes of trout worth NOK1.1 billion. Japan, Thailand and the US were Norway's largest trout markets in May.
Norway exported 70 tonnes of king crab in May, a decrease of 10% (or 8 tonnes). Value, however, increased 5%, or by NOK 801,000. South Korea, Japan and the US were the most important king crab markets in May.
Exported prawns in May totaled 842 tonnes, an increase of 5%, or 42 tonnes. Value was about NOK60 million, unchanged from May last year. Sweden, Finland and the UK were the main markets for prawn in May.
CONTRIBUTED US$1.25B IN GDP
Ireland's seafood sector grew 7.4% in 2016
Ireland's seafood sector grew 7.4% in 2016, contributing €1.1 billion (US$1.25 billion) in gross domestic product (GDP) to the country's economy, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara's (BIM) annual "Business of Seafood" report. BIM is Ireland's Seafood Development Agency.
The report, launched at the National Seafood Conference held in Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway on June 29, said 2016 saw domestic seafood sales reaching €380 million ($430.8 million) and an increase in private investment by seafood enterprises.
"As we gather in Galway ahead of SeaFest 2017 which is all about celebrating the marine, it is positive to be able to report further growth in the Irish seafood sector of over 7% to €1.1 billion in GDP", BIM CEO Jim O'Toole told the conference, which had for its theme "Winning in a Changing Environment'. SeaFest 2017, an annual maritime festival, was held on June 30-July 2.
"We have a valuable and sought after raw material that is in great demand on our key markets contributing €376 million in fish landings alone, €167 million in farmed fish and shellfish and employing 11,000 people in our coastal communities", he added.
O'Toole said the task facing the sector now is to build on this growth, add value and diversify to withstand current challenges including Brexit.
The conference, held in association with SeaFest, attracted over 200 delegates from fishing, processing, retail and aquaculture sectors.
NEW A.I.T. OFFERING
Certificate degree programme on sustainable Asian aquaculture
Starting August, the Bangkok-based Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) will offer a new, one-semester certificate programme on Sustainable Asian Aquaculture under its Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AARM) academic programme of the institute's School of Environment, Resources and Development.
This certificate programme is a combination of course work and hands-on experience in specialised areas (fish/shrimp hatchery or farming). It includes three months of practical experience on Asian aquaculture. It is useful for both students (with credit transfer) and working professionals and entrepreneurs (without credits).
For students, the AIT entry qualifications for master's programmes will apply. The certificate can lead to a master's degree. For professionals, the entry requirements are flexible. There is the option to avail themselves of either the course work or hands-on experience alone as separate modules.
If you opt to take either the course work or hand-on experience only, the course fee is US$3,600, for the duration of three months.
For the certificate degree, with a duration of six months, the course fee is $6,600.
A panel of world-renowned experts will handle the topics in this programme, which is now open for enrollment. Applications were accepted until June 30.
For further information, you may email Dr Krishna Salin at salinkr@ait.asia.
WELCOMED BY FEFAC
EU authorises insect meal in fish feed
From July 1, processed proteins derived from insects are authorised in feed for farmed fish in the EU.
FEFAC welcomed the authorisation of this promising alternative source of proteins for animals, particularly fish, which requires diet compositions with highly digestible proteins.
In the long term, the inclusion of insect meal could further contribute to the sustainable development of EU aquaculture.
Within the current legal framework, the feeding of insects destined to be used as fish feed needs to comply with the same requirements as any conventionally farmed animal, specifically that they should not be fed with waste or livestock manure.
FEFAC believes that this measure is in line with the present state of scientific knowledge and should facilitate public and market acceptance of insect proteins used as feed.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ONGOING
GSSI recognition of BAP certification programme imminent
The Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party aquaculture certification programme is one step closer to being recognised by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).
The process began in December 2015 when BAP applied for GSSI recognition, the first of a seven-step process to determine whether the BAP Finfish and Crustacean Farm Standards and BAP Salmon Farm Standards are in alignment with all "Essential Components" of the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool.
On June 23, the GSSI Benchmark Report was published, triggering a 30-day public consultation in which stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments for consideration.
The GSSI Benchmark Committee then provides the GSSI steering board with a final recommendation on recognition, and all comments and responses will be made public after the steering board's final decision on recognition.
BAP is the world's first third-party aquaculture certification programme to enter into public consultation, the division of Global Aquaculture Alliance claimed.
BAP Standards coordinator Dan Lee said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Independent Experts and the Benchmark Committee have found BAP to be in alignment with all GSSI Essential Components. This is a major step forward for independent recognition of the BAP program".
GSSI's Global Benchmark Tool, launched in October 2015, was developed over a three-year multi-stakeholder process involving environmental NGOs, businesses, independent experts, governmental, and intergovernmental organisations, alongside two public consultations and a pilot test.
